Massage-machine.



MASSAGE MACHINE.

APPLIATION FILED MAR. 10, 1904. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PFANSCHMIDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO VIBRAS- SAGE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

mAsSAeE-mACHiNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. A7(:`r6,89', dated August 9, 1904:.

Application filed March l0, 1904. Serial No. 197,434. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES PFANsei-IMIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVlassage-h/Iachines, of which the following is a specification.

In the art to which the present invention relates it is desirable to use a machine which is of such simple construction that there will be little or no danger of its getting out of order and which at the same time will be cheap to manufacture and will therefore enable its use under circumstances which would prohibit the use of a more' complicated machine.

The objects of the present invention are to produce a machine combining in the greatest degree simplicity, durability, and perfection of operation and at the same time a varying degree of vibration, enabling a single machine to perform with but slight -readjustment the work of several machines having different degrees of vibratory action.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred form of device; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. l, showing the .parts differently adjusted; Fig. 3, a modilied form of device; Fig. 4:, a detail View showing a modified form of mounting; Fig. 5, a face view of the eccentric plate for imparting vibration, and Fig. 6 a view showing a modiii'ed form of a viv bratory shaft.

dle is a casing C, which may be secured to the handle by means of a screw c, as shown in Fig. l, or may be screw-threaded onto the end of the handle, as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the end of the casing is closed by means of a closing-plug D, which is provided with a slit CZ in its end for the insertion of a screw-driver or other similar implement thereinto, and said head is adjustable into and out of the easing to regulate the bearings therein contained.

On the inner end of the rotary shaft is a `fiat 5 5 plate or disk E, which is rigidlysecured at right angles to the shaft and is provided on its inner or acting face with a series of holes c, having different degrees of eceentrieity with respect to the axial center of the plate or disk, and between the inner face of the disk and the end of the handle within the casing is a bearing-washer c', which may be formed of metal, fiber, or other suitable material and which forms a bearing for the disk and allows of its smooth and easy rotation within the casing as the shaft is rotated. Immediately opposite the disk and in axial line therewith is a bearing-block F, formed of hardened steel, which block is set within the closing-plug and is provided on its inner or acting face with a rounded recess j'. Between the disk and the bearing-block is an eccentrically-mounted shaft G,preferably formed of steel of circular shape and havingl in its outer end a recess g and in its inner end a recess g', and within the disk or plate is a stud g2, having an enlarged head g3, adapted to enter the recess in the inner end of the shaft G, and said stud may be either screw-threaded into one of the holes in the disk 8o or plate or loosely fitted thereinto to allow of its rotation. The outer end of the shaft (nl is mounted by means of a ball-bearing g", which enters the recesses in the end of the shaft and the bearing-block and pivots the shaft between the bearing block and the rotatable disk or plate, and the closing-plug being' adjustable enables the bearings to 'be tightened or loosened at will to allow for any wear on the bearings in use. It will be understood that the stud may be entered into any one of the several holes in the face of the disk, so that the amount of eceentricity of the shaft Cr can be varied by changing the location of the stud from one of the holes having a small degree of eceentricity to one having a larger e degree of eecentrieity, thereby changing the character of the vibratory motion imparted to the eccentric shaft. When the shaft is so changed, it will be necessary to readjust the bearing for the outer end of the shaft, and such readjustment can be effected by turning' the screw threaded closing plug, thereby bringing it nearer to or farther from the rota-l vhole extends through the vibratory shaft, and

into the hole is screw-threaded a stem I, having on its outer end a massage member c', and the stem is of a length to be screw-threaded through the vibratory shaft to abut against the eccentric shaft and lock the ring in place thereon.

In Fig.l 5 is shown a different arrangement in which a vibratory shaft I is employed, which shaft is split throughout its entire extent and is provided on its exterior with screwthreads z", and on the split shaft is screwthreaded a locking-collar 2, which is adapted to be turned on the split vibratory shaft to bring the split members thereof together as the locking-screw is upwardly moved, thereby at the same time locking the stem of themassage member within the vibratory shaft and locking the collar onto the eccentric shaft at the same operation.

In Fig. 3 in place of the adjustable closingplug and hall-bearing therein is employed a closing plug or cap J, through which is screwthreaded a bearing-stud j', having a rounded end j", which performs the function of the ball-bearing hitherto described and mounts the eccentric shaft in the same manner. In the arrangement of Fig. 3 when it is necessary to change the adjustment of the bearings the same can be eected by moving the screw-bearing plug inwardly or outwardly to change the adjustment and locking it by means of a lock-nut jg.

The vibratory shaft projects through a slot or opening K in the casing, and said slot or opening may be reinforced by means of a plate or bar 7c on the side of the opening against which the friction is most likely to take place, since during the operation of the device the natural tendency of the vibratory shaft will be to bear against one side of the opening more than the other. In place of the reinforcing bar or plate, however, the edges of the opening may be tempered or hardened to resist the friction above referred to.

In use when it is desired to impart a slight degree of vibration to the massage member the collar on the vibratory shaft is moved into the position shown in Fig. l, in which it lies near the axial center of the eccentricallymounted shaft, so that but a slight degree of vibratory action is imparted thereto; but when it is desirable to increase the vibratory action the collar is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby throwing' it farther from its axial center and increasing the vibratory action. When the least amount of vibratory action is desirable,the collar will be adjusted in the position shown in Fig. I, and the bearingstud on the rotatable disk will be inserted into thehole nearest to the center thereof, thereby reducing the vibratory action to a minimum, and when it is desirable to give the maximum vibratory action the bearing-stud will be inserted into the hole farthest from the center and the collar moved into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this manner a great variation of vibratory action can be had, and the parts are so arranged that the bearings may be adjusted to act perfectly under all circumstances.

Vhen the parts are arranged to have the minimum amount of vibration, the massage member will impart a rapid rubbing action, which tends to improve the circulation and renovate the cuticle at the point of application. When the parts are arranged to give a moderate degree of vibration, a motion combining the rubbing action and a slight degree of pounding or kneading action will be imparted, which vibration will be of suihcient intensity to stimulate the circulation and nerve action not only at the point of application but at a considerable distance therefrom, and when the parts are arranged to give the maximum amount of vibration a considerable pounding and twisting movement will be imparted, which will be more apparent than the rubbing action hitherto described and will be of sufficient intensity to stimulate the nervecenters and impart a vibration throughout a wide radius, affecting parts of the body along way removed from the point of immediate applicatiou This difference in character of the vibration will greatly enhance the value of the machine and increase its field of operation, and the character and degree of vibration can be regulated to meet the requirements of each particular case. It will thus be seen that the device is simple in construction, employing but few parts, which do not require any great degree of milling or other machinework in their formation, and that when arranged as shown the wear and friction on the parts will be reduced to a minimum and that the parts are so arranged that they may be removed for repair or substitution without difficulty and without readjusting the remaining parts of the machine.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a massage-machine, the combination of a casing, a rotatable shaft, an eccentricallymounted shaft within the casing actuated by the rotatable shaft, and a vibratable shaft slidably adjustable on the eccentrically-mounted shaft and adapted to be rigidly held thereon IOO IOS

IIO

IIS

at substantially right angles thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a rotary shaft extending through the handle, a disk on the end of the rotary shaft, a stud entered into the disk at a distance from its axial center, an eccentricallymounted shaft contacting' With the stud at one end and actuated thereby, a pivotal mounting for the opposite end of said shaft, and a vibratory shaft carried by saidshaft and adjustable thereon to vary the degree of vibration imparted to the vibratory shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a massag'e-machine, the combination of a handle, a casing' on the end of the handle, a rotary shaft entered into the casing, a disk on the end of the rotary shaft provided With a series of holes in its face having different degrees of eccentricity with respect to the axial center of the disk, a stud adapted to enter the several holes in the disk, an eccentrically-mounted shaft having one end actuated by the stud, a pivotal mounting for the opposite end of said shaft in line With the axial center of the' disk, a vibratory shaft carried by the eccentrically-mounted shaft, and a massage member carried by the vibratory shaft, substantially'as described.

4f. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a casing on the end of the handle, a rotary shaft extending' longitudinally of the handle, a disk Within the casing on the end of the rotary shaft, a stud entered into the disk, a closing-plug screw-threaded into the outer end of the casing, a recess in the closing-plug, and` entered into the recess, an eccentrically-mounted shaft having recesses in its opposite ends for the reception of the stud and the ball, avibratory shaft set in angular relation to the eccentrically-mounted shaft and adjustable thereon, and a massage member carried by the vibratory shaft and adapted to have imparted thereto varying degrees of vibration, substantially as described.

5. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a casing on the end of the handle, a rotary shaft extending' longitudinally of the handle, a disk Within the casing on the end of the rotary shaft, a stud entered into the disk, a closing-plug' screw-threaded into the outer end of the easing, a recess in the closing-plug, and entered into the recess, an eccentrically-mounted shaft having recesses in its opposite ends for the reception of. the stud and the ball, a vibratory shaft set in angular relation to the eccentrically-mounte'd shaft and adjustable thereon, a screw-threaded stem passing' through the vibratory shaft and adapted to be brought into contact with the eccentrically-mounted shaft, anda massage member carried by the screw-threaded stem, substantially as described.

6. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle having at its end a casing, a rotary shaft having its end entered into the casing', a

disk on the end of the rotary shaft and provided with a series of recesses of different eccentricity, a pivotal mounting' adapted to be entered into any one of the recesses, an eccentric shaft having' its inner end actuated by the pivotal mounting' and having' its outer end pivoted in a line With the axial center of the eccentric disk, and a massage member connected with the eccentrically-mounted shaft and adapted to have vibration imparted thereto, substantially as described.

` 7. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle having at its end a casing, a rotary shaft having' its end entered into the casing, a disk on the` end of the rotary shaft and provided With a series of recesses of different eccentricity, a pivotal mounting adapted to be entered into any one of the recesses, a shaft having its inner end actuated by the pivotal mounting' and having' its outer end pivoted in a line With the axial center of the disk, a vibrating shaft slidably and adjustably mounted on the shaft, and a massage member connected with the vibrating' shaft and adapted to have varying degrees of .vibration imparted thereto by reason of the adjustment of the pivotal mounting for the eccentrically-mount ed shaft and the adjustment of the vibrating shaft thereon, substantially as described.

8. ln a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the handle, a casing on the end of the handle, an adjustable screw-threaded closing-plug' entered into the end of the casing, a-bearing-block on the inner face of the closingplug, a rounded recess in the bearing'- block, `a disk on the end of the rotary shaft provided in its face with a series of recesses of different eccentricity With respect to the axial center of the disk, a stud havinga rounded outer end adapted to be entered into the recesses and entered into the recess in the bearing-block in line with the axial center of the disk, a shaft provided with recesses in its ends adapted to bear against the ball and the stud and adapted to have different degrees of ec centric motion imparted thereto by the adjustment of the stud, a vibratory shaftoutwardly extending therefrom and provided with a collar encircling the eccentrically- IOO IIO

mounted shaft adjustable thereon, and a masy CHARLES PFAN SCHMIDT.

r Witnesses: I

SAMUEL W. BANNING, WALKER BANNING. 

